Rose Garden Dedicated to a Former Kirby Jr. High Teacher

Rose Garden Dedicated to a Former Kirby Jr. High Teacher

While it was a joyous day for many graduating seniors across Texoma, for
two Hirschi High students their graduation morning began in
remembrance.

While it was a joyous day for many graduating seniors across Texoma, for two Hirschi High students their graduation morning began in remembrance. Saturday morning former students, fellow teachers, and friends gathered to pay tribute to Rinette Ross, a former Kirby Junior High teacher. She was killed three years ago in a car wreck while commuting to work from her home in Lawton. A rose garden at Hirschi High was dedicated to the former educator Saturday morning. Some of the students said because Mrs. Ross never had kids of her own, her students became her children. And now they hope this newly dedicated rose garden will keep her memory alive for future students. For 13 years, Rinette Ross helped form the minds of WFISD students. Throughout that time, students say she had a huge impact on their lives. Brandon Shephard and Tamica Warner took ross's 8th grade English class. "She did so much for the school and this community and helped a lot of kids get out of their homes that they were living in with bad situations," said Brandon Shephard a former student. "She was like a second mother to all of us," said Tamica Warner a former student As a part of an Eagle Scout project this rose garden was put together to honor the former Kirby Junior High teacher. A plaque was also placed which has Mrs. Ross's picture and one of her favorite phrases. "She would always say 'see you love you bye' at the end of any class period. She was mad happy sad, we were going to leave with a smile no matter what," said Shephard. Now on their graduation day Brandon and Tamica share smiles as they flip through their 8th grade yearbook remembering their teacher. "I wish she could have seen me walk, but now I know she is in a better place and I can say that she is there with me in spirit," said Warner. Shortly after her death, a scholarship fund in Mrs. Ross's name was also created. The fund has helped several students continue their education.